145

Answer
Posted on July 17, 2019 by David M Willis

145 thoughts on “Answer”

  1. Ana Chronistic

    the last shall be first and the first last

    1. Bathymetheus

      That’s just a last in, first out queue.

      Yes, I know it’s from the Bible. My comment stands.

      1. Jones

        Last in, first out is a stack, not a queue.

        1. Marsh Maryrose

          Anyway, it is canon that Marcie uses pointers, for all the good they do her.

        2. Clif

          A stack IS a LIFO queue. And they are frequently implemented with pointers.

        3. ktbear

          Not sure we’re talking about the same pointers?

        4. davidbreslin101

          The hunting dogs, right?

        5. keithcurtis

          The sisters?

        6. Bathymetheus

          Haha!

          I love you all!

  2. DarkoNeko

    I quite like this heart to heart talk

  3. BBCC

    God I love these two.

    Getting some real demi vibes from Malaya, considering this and Shortpacked.

    1. Regalli

      Agreed. Yay more aspec rep!

    2. GoblinScribe

      These two are so much goshdarn fun when they’re putting up with each other.

    3. ian livs

      Demi AND some kind of trans?? Oh no… Malaya is becoming too relatable… my head’s gonna explode.

    4. CJ

      How does Demi work for what we’ve seen with her jumping Joe?

      1. BBCC

        It is in fact possible to bang someone you’re not attracted to. Depending on the person and the situation, it might not be something they would ever want to do and it’s not uncommon to be repulsed by the idea, but there are people who don’t mind. Especially since Malaya was getting something out of it – she thought she was spiting Sal.

        1. CJ

          Maybe I misunderstood the meaning of demi then, because I though it entails both not having sex with someone you’re not attracted to and needing an emotional connection to feel attraction.

        2. Happilychaotic

          Demi means only that you need an emotional connection to feel attraction, but aces and demis still can have sex with someone they are not attracted to. A lot of us don’t want to, but some don’t mind.

        3. Council

          Only the second part’s the one that ‘qualifies’ you, so to say.

        4. thejeff

          Not having sex can’t really be part of the definition, since it’s an act, not an orientation. Much like homosexuals can have heterosexual sex (or vice versa), it’s just not what they’re interested in.
          The Slipshine suggests Malaya wasn’t particularly interested in the sex part. If she’s demi and hasn’t yet actually made that kind of connection with anyone, she may think that’s what sex is and just use it to further other goals – in that case to get one up on Sal.

        5. Felian

          Yep!
          Actually, i like just starting out with sex in order to develop a connection and to start being attracted to someone. Because attraction is great, but often i just don’t have it until i engage with a person in some way, and for me, that way may well be sex!
          That might not be the scholarly example for demisexuality, but it works for me.

        6. Seregiel

          Sex actually releases a chemical in your brain that makes you “addicted” to and trust a person more so I can see this as an unlock!

          Ace spectrum is not having a sexual ATTRACTION and/or having no desire for it. You can be an ace with a high libido – it just isn’t triggered by a person in front of you. I’m Demi and I had sex with so many people precisely because I was trying to figure out what was “wrong” with me. I can recognize they have attractive traits, I like them as a person and being around them, they are all a bunch of check offs… why is this not working!?! It worked last time!!! Doesn’t help that I’m also pan so that led to a Malaya approach of guys? Girls? Anyone? I’m confused.

        7. He Who Abides

          Sorry, can’t help that much. Mostly because of the “many people” part; my only time I had sex, I felt kind of sick afterwards. Fortunately it didn’t hurt the relationship, and she wanted to help figure it all out, but it was still shocking at the time.

        8. Chaucer59

          In this case “not attracted to” isn’t strong enough to describe Sal’s feelings re Malaya. Some people DO go in for hate-fucking, but I really can’t see Sal hate-fucking Malaya. I’d really love to see her punch Malaya in the face though.

        9. Seregiel

          Jason would know :). Though I agree with Malaya.

      2. kdmw

        Plenty of ace spectrum people (including myself) enjoy the act of sex, even without sexual attraction. I don’t see someone and get turned on or want to have sex, but when I do decide to, I enjoy the emotional connection and physical sensations.

    5. Happilychaotic

      Lol, I don’t know how I feel about the fact that MALAYA is maybe my representation 😀

      1. Council

        Sexuality aside, your name IS Happilychaotic

        I don’t know, you look like you could bond over a couple of things

  4. Regalli

    Oh Malaya. That ‘it’s complicated’ attraction energy.

  5. Doctor_Who

    I always took Sal for more of a Sakaki.

    Joyce is obviously Chiyo-Chan, Dina might be Osaka, Becky would make a good Tomo, maybe Marcie as Kagura (bit of a stretch, but both are into sports), and I guess Billie as Yomi?

    1. Doctor_Who

      But we can all 100% agree that Robin and Leslie are Yukari and Nyamo, right?

      1. Regalli

        Judging by my minute too late comment, yes.

    2. Regalli

      Who’s the Yukari and Nyamo in this equati- dammit Robin and Leslie aren’t they.

    3. Kensou

      Well, if we have to accept Sal as Yomi, there’s no way in HELL I’m going with Malaya as Tomo. Tomo would have been kinda annoying annoying to actually know IRL, but she doesn’t give off the same “I am very punchable” vibes Malaya does.

    4. Kyrik Michalowski

      If Sal is like Sakaki it makes sense since they’re both my favorite characters in their respective artworks.

    5. The Other Mike

      And Joe’s dad is Kimura,

  6. ValdVin

    (Adds Azumanga Daioh to list of things I need to see.)

    1. Doctor_Who

      100%, it’s fantastic.

      1. 0kami

        Seconded. It’s a delightful series.

        1. wwwhhattt

          The comic’s also well worth it.

  7. Delicious Taffy

    Stop evading the easy, non-invasive question about your sexuality, Malaya. What is this, some sort of complex personal issue that you haven’t figured out yourself yet?

    1. Lexi

      My sympathy for the girl who just demanded two people kiss to satisfy her curiosity, then taunted them for refusing to, is at all time low.

      Girl deserves some uncomfortable questions.

      1. Seregiel

        I get this but also two wrongs don’t make a right? Malaya being in the bad doesn’t mean the prying also isn’t in the bad?

        1. Mopey

          But Sal isn’t prying just because she’s curious, she indirectly has some skin in the game. Given what Malaya knows now avoiding to answer “Do you think you two could hit it off?” would just be stringing Marcie along.

          Sal is really just asking (rather aggressively) if she should tell Marcie to look elsewhere. That’s a pretty reasonable question to ask someone.

        2. Seregiel

          Considering how much she was loudly asking for people to be direct just a few strips ago and still didn’t receive such courtesy… no? Because Marcie isn’t there for the answer and that’s a talk for them two?

        3. Mopey

          Sal only threw the question back to Malaya to begin with. Malaya obviously didn’t think the exact same question was unreasonable when she asked it of Sal. And she certainly wouldn’t have let Sal get away with being this evasive.

        4. Seregiel

          Seriously. The idea Malaya needs to have an answer for the FRIEND over a metaphorical sledgehammer that happened a hot minute ago because Marcie wasn’t honest about herintent is beyond me.m If Malaya’s still invested after the deceit (which it seems she is) she can resolve that with Marcie on their schedule without being pushed because someone adjacent to the hijinx is concerned. “Have your head sorted now so I can have a conclusion!” Is not any (or much) better then “preform affections so I can deem it of worth!”

        5. thejeff

          No, but this also isn’t out of the blue, it’s a reasonable follow up to the conversation they’ve been having about the aftermath of finding out about Marcie. Malaya ask Sal if she might get together with Marcie, Sal says no and returns the question to Malaya, following it up with the “do you like girls” as part of the same chain of thought. Even the “that’s not a no” comes with a smile, which makes me read is more of “I know that means yes” tease than a demand for a firm answer.
          Malaya’s under no obligation to answer of course, but I don’t see the questions as out of line. In this context.

        6. Seregiel

          That was more towards commenters making it seem like Sal deserves an answer versus it being a natural line of questioning.

        7. Mopey

          Well, since it was an answer to my comment I’d assume I’m one of the implied commenters in this situation, but my point was certainly not that Malaya was obligated to answer, just that it wasn’t unreasonable for Sal to ask.

          A question being reasonable to ask and “I’d prefer not to answer that” being a valid response aren’t mutually exclusive.

    2. Kyoulkoa

      I just wanted to let you know, after seeing your current Malaya ava, I chuckled for about a min

      1. Delicious Taffy

        We aims to please.

  8. Nono

    Ah ha, I see.

    Sal is the new Joyce, and Malaya is now Walky.

  9. Stephen Bierce

    Does the ukulele need to be tagged?

    1. Stephen Bierce

      Today’s strip is sponsored by the Eaglemoss Back To The Future DeLorean scale model.

    2. Needfuldoer

      Danny’s not in this one…

      1. Marsh Maryrose

        As of this moment, Sal and Malaya aren’t tagged. I think that’s Stephen’s point?

        Anyway, when it comes to the posters on Sal’s part of the wall, I have at least once mistaken a guitar for a bass, so I have no credibility here, but: that blue thing looks a lot more like a guitar than an ukulele to me.

  10. MasakiSayz

    Hoo boy, talking about Azumanga Daioh makes me feel older than the adding app everyone got into today

    1. He Who Abides

      Don’t trust that app. I hear it’s riddled with spyware.

  11. Bagge

    They DO manage to slip in some real conversation about heavy subjects between the insult. That’s impressive.

    1. etherealdesiign

      for about three seconds and…. it’s gone.

      if the current pattern holds, we’ll see that from them again in, uh, six years?

  12. Pocky

    Well dang, there goes Marcie’s threeway proposal.

    1. Shen Hibiki

      …not really, they don’t need to work on eachother, if they both work on Marcie then it’s still a threesome (?)

  13. Newllend(henryvolt)

    Now THAT was hilarious. Ok that was either Malaya messing with her or she actauly assumes there were times Sal made a pass at her.

  14. Sirksome

    Malaya only really likes herself so I guess that technically means she’s into girls?

    1. Shen Hibiki

      Nope, since she’s not sure she’s a girl sometimes… so she’s not sure what’s she into!

    2. ktbear

      What makes you think Malaya likes herself?

      1. Deanatay

        “Does anybody really like ANYBODY?”

        Not Malaya.

  15. ShinyNeen

    N-nice save?

    Anyway, I’m impressed that trying to manipulate Malaya has somehow led to this, probably their most positive interaction… ever?

  16. 0kami

    Goddamnit Malaya, why am I agreeing with you in panel 4?

  17. DailyBrad

    Malaya probably got the biggest laugh out of me here than she has in Shortpacked or DoA. Nice punchline.

  18. Michael Steamweed

    Panel 4: O Cursed Image!

  19. FaerwenOfValenwood

    I’m kind of really enjoying Malaya now that she’s showing some humanity. This feels funny.

    1. BenRG

      Yes; the fact that we’re actually seeing her develop in the strip – Willis confirming about her problems and how they impact on her behaviour – makes her less of a one-dimensional bully character and easier to understand.

      1. Felian

        Yes please. i like it when obnoxious characters develop depth that make them easier to not hate…
        Carla would need a bit more depth, too. i mean we’ve seen her dealing with transphobia and showing feelings about it, but otherwise she’s just being super annoying to me… (or maybe just reminding me of a person i know that is really obnoxious, too..)

        1. thejeff

          I think we’ve seen a good deal of depth with Carla – enough to know that the asshole is mostly a facade. Particularly we’ve seen her reach out to help people – patching Amber up after the car chase, Joyce’s shower shoes, especially continuing to check up on Ruth above and beyond what Billie had any right to ask.
          It’s that we haven’t seen anything similar from Malaya as yet that leaves me less sympathetic to her.

  20. Victor Riley

    The more she dodges, the more fakey she become.

  21. abysswatcher1993

    Malaya tries to be a bongo to cover up her own insecurities. It’s both sad and funny.

  22. Zatar

    Honestly panel 5 Sal makes me agree with panel 6 Malaya.

  23. JessWitt

    Coincidentally I bought the Azumanga Daioh omnibus today. Pretty entertaining so far.

    Any highlights to further pique the interest of myself and others?

    1. Roborat

      Good purchase, that was the first Manga I ever bought, oh so many years ago.

  24. Keulen

    Perhaps Malaya should get into politics, since she’s so good at dodging questions.

  25. goggleman64

    If Malaya turns out to be aromantic and have a shifting, uncertain gender identity, then the character I will relate to most strongly will be the one I’ve found most obnoxious.

    Life … is a puzzling thing …

    1. Jago

      Do you relate to people more because of their gender/sexual identity than their character? I am geniuenly curious, because I never thought about that, in general.

      1. thejeff

        It’s not uncommon for people whose identities don’t get a lot of representation. When you find a character who matches those aspects there’s a tendency to latch on.

        For those of us more mainstream, we can afford to be pickier. There’s a ton of straight white cis guys in media, so I can pick other aspects of character to relate to.

        1. davidbreslin101

          I remember about 15 years ago asking a friend why she was so keen to watch a couple of BBC drama serials that basically portrayed lesbians as doomed, crazy bunny-boilers. Her answer was something like “well, it’s better than nothing.”

        2. Jago

          TBH I can’t remember identifying with a lesbian character before at all. Maybe I just forgot, or maybe I’m just too picky. But then again, my sexual orientation isn’t that important to me, so maybe it’s about what’s important to us, about ourselves.

      2. Seregiel

        Not speaking for Googleman, but personally it’s more the kindred spirit feeling. I might not like them, but they know what it is like to face some of the same challenges and that makes me a bit more empathetic to their flaws. I root for them in a fashion, even if it’s against my own personal beliefs, because I’m happy they achieved their own goals when life makes it that much more difficult. There’s a bestowing of respect even if it’s grudging. Order of operations helps. If they are starting out a jerk and then I get a reason – benefit of the doubt for at least a time. Life is hard! If I know what they are and they are then shown to be a jerk – people are people and all can be awful to one another. There is a limit to how much misery you’re allowed to spread and have it be reasonable and you don’t get to continue to lash out against people who didn’t contribute to your pain. Human mistakes okay but you need to be willing to work on the pattern.

        First is personality or values. But it’s a really nice feeling when you know there is someone who understands even if you don’t agree with them.

      3. He Who Abides

        Honestly, my particular orientation is something I’ve never really seen, so I tend to latch onto characters whose backstory, personality, or shown experience match mine.

    2. Dellaran

      I briefly read that as “aromatic”, instead of “aromantic”, and I actually started wondering how many delocalized electrons Malaya has and whether she satisfies the 4n + 2 rule.

      I think I need more sleep.

      1. JBento

        You mean, benzzzzzzzzzzzene?

  26. Solenoid

    “Does anybody really like anybody?” is the most honest answer you’re gonna get, Sal.

  27. John

    Malaya’s really gunning for taking away Naomi’s top spot as “named character with the most F-bombs per appearance”.

    She’s already, by far, the sweariest character with double-digit appearances.

  28. Needfuldoer

    If there’s one thing Malaya knows, it’s bow to dodge a question.

  29. Lacuna

    Dumbing of Age cast hanging out with the Azumanga Daioh cast:

    -Osaka’s a creative writing major and hangs out with Ruth a lot in the English department. Ruth winds up looking after her against her will.

    -Sakaki, as usual, winds up as one of the cool kids against her will. I’m not sure whether or not Malaya would hate her a la Sal or ironically respect her because she takes no crap from anyone and they’ve both got exotic pets.

    -Tomo tries to catch Amazi-Girl early on as training for when she joins the police. She winds up hanging out with Billie a lot, who’s just Yomi enough to get mad at her shenanigans yet just dumb enough to keep encouraging them.

    -Kagura’s part of the roller derby.

    -Leslie winds up dating Yukari.

    -Blowjob Cat Vs. Chiyo’s Dad.

    I have no idea how that would play out, but it’s happening.

    Any other ideas?

  30. BenRG

    Malaya, seriously, stop deflecting. Yes or no? If it’s ‘no’, there’s no issue here because something tells me that Sal is enough of a good guy personality type that she’ll help you break it to Marcie and make sure it doesn’t damage your friendship.

    If it’s ‘yes’ but your gender identity issues are screwing around with your brain, then tell Marcie. She just might be understanding enough to actually meet you half way!

    1. JBento

      Or, y’know, don’t stop deflecting and tell Sal to mind her own business. Personal information is personal and you shouldn’t feel obligated to give it to people.

      1. JBento

        And in FURTHER stuff, why should she go out of her way to tell Marcie? Marcie didn’t tell her she wanted to bang, why is Malaya doing all the work here, including revealing extremely personal information that she’s not sure of and may or may not be comfortable with in the first place?

        1. Seregiel

          This. Thank you.

        2. Mopey

          Well, the information that Marcie is in to Malaya is out there, so the status quo is undone and the option of not dealing with it isn’t really on the table. Malaya is certainly entitled to keep her secrets, but it’s a situation she’s going to have to address or it’s just going to drag the drama out.

          If this is as big of a hurdle to Malaya as some people seem to assume then the option of just rejecting Marcie and not going in to it too much is right there. It’s not like she couldn’t change her mind on that later.

  31. CJ

    The original question was “are you into Marice” but Malaya conveniently forgot that and jumped to make it about Sal instead.
    Soooooo, why would she do that? If she’s not into Sal, that is.

    1. BenRG

      She’s trying to avoid an uncomfortable question that she doesn’t feel able to answer by trying to make Sal angry so she’ll forget that she wants it answered. This is a pretty big indicator about how much Malaya’s gender identity issues are impacting on her behaviour.

      1. CJ

        I think you are given her too much slack on this one. Whether Malaya feels attraction to Marcie or not is not a function of Malaya’s gender identity, though it might impact the wish to do something about it.

        I do think past interactions have shown that Malaya is very occupied with Sal and how she lives her life and an attraction that’s not recognized makes, to me at least, more sense that just “randomly decided to hate Sal for being ‘fake’ (however that idea came into being)”

  32. Lawzlo

    …Now kiss.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      They’re gonna apologise to each other and then do the big fucky-wucky.

      1. BarerMender

        Please. We’re civilized around here. We call it the rumpy-pumpy.

        1. thejeff

          Slap-jackin’?

        2. JBento

          Ok, now you’re just making up words.

        3. He Who Abides

          People, the medical term is “Premarital Hanky-Panky”. I would appreciate if we kept it scientific.

        4. Portland

          Or they just keep fighting and then go home and do the happy fappy

  33. Kat

    *plays “I love you (as much as someone like me can love anyone)” from the Galavant musical on the muzak. *

  34. etherealdesiign

    is it bad that i’m counting down the days until the buffer runs out and there’s a chance there’ll be a joke in DoA about belle delphine

    i just really want to see what willis has in the tank for gamer girl bathwater. there are big opportunities here.

    1. Delicious Taffy

      Have we seen anyone playing video games, aside from Sal, Danny, Joe, and Amber?

      1. Opus the Poet

        That isn’t enough?

        1. JBento

          I think it’s more a question of outlook than number? Does any of those fourstrike you like buying other people’s bathwater?

        2. Delicious Taffy

          It’s a little of both. Out of the whole 90+ cast members, we’ve got maybe 4 Hardkore Gamerz®. Out of those 4, are any of them about to buy Vanellope von Schweetz’s tub froth?

        3. etherealdesiign

          it would have to be someone completely unexpected. how about mary? she draws like a weeb, she’s a possible candidate.

      2. Churnobyl

        So this led me down a spiral of questioning. The comic started back in 2010, almost a decade ago. A lots changed with electronics (and life) since then. But focusing on games for a minute, I think all we’ve seen so far is Mario kart on the DS? I’m pretty sure it’s been stated somewhere that the comic isn’t “time-locked” somewhere, but it’s really strange to think that the PS3 was replaced with the PS4, and will soon be replaced with the PS5 in the few in-universe months its been. Like seeing a character using a Switch would be really bizarre if you think about it too much.

        1. David M Willis

          well don’t look now, but

          http://www.dumbingofage.com/2017/comic/book-8/01-face-the-strange/doubleten/

        2. Churnobyl

          Noooooooo my brain!

  35. CJ

    Oh and, BTW: Sal looks so happy at the thought of Marcie getting what she wants in panel four.

    To bad Sal and Malaya are having two entirely different conversations.
    Sal: “hey, my long time best friend might have been into me all the time and I’m not sure what that makes of our friendship. But:I’m sure she’d be happy if you two hooked up. You didn’t say you wouldn’t, so is that a yes?”

    Malaya: “Sal wants to know if I’m into girls, I don’t have a clue and sure as hell don’t want to answer that. She must be asking because she’s into me.”

  36. Lone Duck

    Malaya: Fine, whatever! *takes off shirt*
    Sal: Not me! Marcie!
    *Marcie walks in*
    Slipshine: Marcie does a Threesome.

  37. C.T Phipps

    “Does anyone really like anyone?”

    Puts an interesting spin on Malaya’s romantic entanglements. She might just flat out not enjoy her hookups.

  38. Alan in DC

    Is Malaya a music major? She certainly has a fascination with guitar ads or guitar technical diagrams.

  39. Liquid Len

    I think that’s Sal’s side. Sal played bass in boarding school.

    1. Alan in DC

      Yep, cant believe I forgot that … thx L^2.

  40. Rabisch

    Malaya has start to show a more insecure and human attitude and has Sal started to find (almost) nice to talk with her. I find more and more possible that these two will become friends.

  41. kilgaen

    Successful deflection

  42. Callid13

    Seems Sal and me think alike, considering what I wrote yesterday XD

  43. Jason Rivest

    Malaya is kind of growing on me. Strange.

  44. Lulu88

    So she wants to fuck Sal or not?

  45. Lamppost

    I love this dynamic and am also SUPER INTRIGUED by Malaya’s personal life

  46. Jupiterror

    I like the energy they have between each other now, more riffing on each other than blatant toxicity. Could be alright roomies after all.

    1. Agemegos

      Carla will be very disappointed.

  47. Cardinal Country

    Ultimate Sal response “AHA! Deflections! So many deflections you have now hit yourself! AHA!” or something.

  48. Yotomoe

    …I might draw that tho.

  49. Mada

    Oh shit Sal’s got Yomi energy and Malaya’s totally sporting Tomo’s volume 4 haircut…

  50. Marsh Maryrose

    BREAKING, URGENT QUESTION:

    With one hour before the next strip posts, there are still no tags for this strip.

    DOES THAT MEAN IT’S NOT CANON?

    1. Marsh Maryrose

      Thank Cheese, a potential rift in the Dumbiverse has been averted!

  51. nightshade

    lol sals sooooo easy t ohassle

  52. All-Purpose Guru

    I think it’s telling that Malaya can’t conceive of even *liking* someone. Talk about a sour life this one leads.

    1. Blazing Ace

      Or, they’re AroAce

      1. Rowen Morland

        Makes a lot of sense especially considering her Shortpacked counterpart. AroAce libidoist.

  53. Chessboard

    Sal, she’s giving you a hint. It’s called a suspicious denial. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

  54. Liliet

    …yep, asexual Malaya.

    Also possibly aromantic.

    Luv her <3

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